Method and apparatus for treating textile fibers and for making elastic yarn



Dec. 6, 1938. B. H. FOSTER 139,320

N METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FIBERS AND Foa MAKING ELAsTIc YARN Filed March 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1 BYWA/Q/@ d ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 193s..

B. H. FOSTER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FIBERS AND FOR MAKING ELASTIC YARN Filed March 4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheef 2 ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 193s. l FOSTER' 2,139,320

B. H METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FIBERS AND FOR MAKING ELASTIC YARN Filed March 4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ff m f5, v S7@ (u-gm INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec- 6, 1938- B. H. FOSTER 2139320 METHOD `AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE 4FIIBERS AND FOR MAKING ELASTIC YARN Filed March 4, 1958 `I 4 Shee'lZS-Sl'leeil 4 lfgrf- ATTORNEYS TEXTILE FIBERS AND FOR MAKING ELAS- Boutwell H. Foster, Maplewood, N. J., assignor toA Application March 4,

sozlaims.'

This application is a continuation in part of,l

my prior application Serial No. 105,698. led Oc tober l5, 1936.V Y

The preslentinvention relates tov a new and 5 improved method and apparatus for drafting and spinningtextile bers such as the usual animal and vegetable bers and also the much 'shorter asbestos fibers. The invention also rela-tes. to a new method and apparatus for forming elastic 0 'yarn consisting of an elastic thread having the drafted bers wound thereupon as a cover. The usual 'methodof vdrafting a strand or roving heretofore-has ybeen to pass the same between spaced pairs of 'drafting rolls which are operated at successively increasing surface speeds inthe direction in .which the. strand. or roving `travels between the rolls. The eifectof this is to cause a forward pair of rolls to grip and pull the strand or roving forward at a higher speed than the rate at which it was being advanced'by the preceding pair ofA rolls,'\ to thereby draft or'attenuate the bers forming the strand or roving.

' Such prior drafting rolls however are not well adapted `to draft very short fiber suchas the shorter length lasbestos fibers because the pairs of rollscan not be placed closeenough together to handlethese short fiberswithout making the rollstoo small for thoroughly practical use. Furthermore these draftingrolls subject the bers 5 being draftedto a severe strain due to the fact Vthat Awhen they pass'from one pair of rolls to the next pair of higher speed lthey ward with a severepull.

The present invention contemplates reciproveating drafting means which can be operated much closer together than the usual drafting rolls, and it also contemplates the operationof such reciprocating drafting means with a variable speed whereby the drafting pull is slow at the 40 start but increases in the direction in which the fibers are beingattenuated.

The above mentioned co-pending applicationv is directed tosaid reciprocating drafting means,

'but'.the present. invention contemplates important improvements in' the construction and vopg eration over the apparatus of said prior .appli-- One important feature of the present inven- ..66 tion resides in pairs of cooperating jaws adapted y United States Rubber Products, Inc., N. Y.,'a, corporation of Delaware are .jerkedforabout an Y New York,

to engage and operate upon the roving or Istrand to be drafted, and in means for operatively connecting the-jaws forming a pair so that they are retained `at all times in proper alignment and the movement of one jaw is imparted to the `other. f,

Another important featureof the present invention resides in a comb which is adapted to engage and comb the fibers While they are being drafted or attenua-ted. This comb serves not only to straighten the bers and arrangethem an elastic yarn by drafting the roving as herein contemplated and simultaneously applying these 'drafted fibers about an elastic thread as a' heli# cally wrapped cover. It is found that this method of producing an elastic-yarn provides an elastic yarn havinga substantially uniform stretch, and that the yarn is .wellcovered with the helical coils disposed smoothlyover the rubber core and tightly connected so that the cover will not strip off of the core. It is further found that thiselastic yarn knits and weaves well.

The above and other features of the invention and novelvcombination ofparts will be more. fully understood from vthe following description when-read in connection with the accompany ing drawings,` wherein:

Fig. 1 isan end elevation with parts in section of -a drafting and spinning-machine'constructed in accordance with the present invention.

\ Fig. 2 on a larger scalev is a front view of the `drafting mechanism 'of Fig. 1."

Fig. 3"is an enlarged top plan view of the mechanism of Fig. l, parts being shown in section, as taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical vsectional view through the mechanism of Fig. 3 showing an operating arm in side view and the drafting mechanism in section. e

Fig..5

Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is asection taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

is a section taken onthe line 5-v-5 of Fig.7lis alperspec'tive sectional view of adjustable stop mechanism to be described;

Fig. 8 is a sectional viewl similar to Fig. 4 but cotton and other textile bers, and it may be usedV to draft a single roving or two -or more rovings f may be drafted together to form a single strand of attenuated fibers.

In the drafting and spinning machine illustrated, only thevdrafting and spinning unit adja cent one end of the frame of the machine is shown, but it willbe understood that this machine may be provided with a4 large number of such units adapted to operate simultaneously` side by side and that all of these units may be driven from a single source of power. l

In 'the construction shown an end frame III is provided upon which is mounted an Iupstarlding bracket II which is secured to the frame I Il by the bolts I2. To the front portion of this bracket I I is secured an upper longitudinally extending rail I3, and below the rail I3 is provided a longi- I3 and I4 serve to support a series of fixed plates I6, only one of these plates and part of another being shown in the drawings, but a number of suchl plates may be secured to these supporting rails lengthwise of the machine and each may constitute a portion of a drafting unit similar to the unit herein shown and described. The fixed plate I6 is rigidly secured to the upper and lower supporting rails 'by the screws I'I andthis plate is provided with a vertical slot or opening I8 providing a clearance space for the operating of the drafting mechanism to be described.

In front of the fixed plate I6 in slightly spaced relation thereto is mounted the movable plate I9 and this movable plate is supported for a limited sliding movement horizontally towards and from the fixed plate for a. purpose to be described. This front plate I9 is supported for sliding movement towards andfroxn the rearplate by the diagonally disposed guide-pins 20 which pass slidably through guide holes in the front plate and these guide-pins are rigidly secured to the xed plate by the clamping screws 2|.

The movable plate I 9 is provided with a slot or opening similar to the opening I9 formed in the rear plate and the front plate I9 is continuouslythe movable plate I9 while `the other end of eachl olf these springs abuts against the head of a screw provided at the outer en d of the posts 29 and pins 23, which the springs surround. y

When the apparatus of the present inventiontis being threaded up it may be desirable to retain the movable plate I 9 spaced well away from the fixed plate I6 and this is accomplished in the construction shown by providing each of the diagonally disposed guide-posts 20' with the shoulder 25 with which the plate I9 may be readily engaged by forward and toengage it with and release it from pulling this plate outwardly and lshifting it slightly to cause its inner face to engage and rest against these shoulders 25. l The movable plate is preferably provided with a bow shaped handle 26 extending transversely across the central portion of the plate and it is secured-thereto by the lscrews This handle may be engaged to pull the plate the holding shouldgers 25.`

In accordancewith the present invention the strand or roving to be\ drafted is pulled forward step by step by a paii` of jaws which are opened and closed and whichare also reciprocated along a short path.- The drafting of the strand or roving is effected by a second pair of jaws spaced from the first and which are likewise opened and closed but are reciprocated along a longer path of travel so that the second pair of jaws will draft or attenuate thev lfibers While the strand or roving is held by the first pair of jaws. These two pairs of jaws are moved simultaneously into and out of gripping engagement with the strand or roving and since these jaws are open at the same time, it is important to provide means to hold the strand orroving to thereby maintain it in place when it is released by said jaws. The plate I9 above described supports and operates the holding means just mentionedand also facilitates the operation of the reciprocating jaws.

The strand or rbving R to be'drafted may be formed of any of the usual fibers and may be supplied from a bobbin 28 which in the construction shown is mounted: upon a spindle 29 that is suspended from a supporting bar 30. The roving R in the construction shown is led from the bobbin 28 horizontally toa guide-bar 3| supported by the upright rods 32 extending upwardly from the rail I3 and this roving then passes downwardly from the guide-bar 3| to the drafting mechanism which will now be described.

In accordance with the present invention, the roving R isv pulled forward step by step by a pair of reciprocating feed jaws, and in order to prevent the roving from pulling back due to its l tension,. when it is released by these jaws, means is provided f`or clamping this roving ata point above these feed jaws when the latter are open. This clamping means in the construction shown comprises the clamping plate 33 which is secured by screws or otherwise to the inner face of the front plate I9 and upon the rear plate I6 isv provided a. roughened surface 34 which may take the form of a piece of emery cloth adhesively secured to the outer face of the plate I6. It

vwill be seenfrom what has just been said thatl the springs 22 acting upon the movable plate I9 tend to force this plate rearwardly to clamp the roving between the members 33 and 34.

, The means shown for feeding the roving for'- ward step by step comprises a rear jaw 35 which operates. in the clearance slot I8 formed in the rear plate I6 and a front jaw 38 which is slidably secured to the front plate I9 to slide within its vertical slot. The rear jaw 35 is moved in somewhat of an elliptical path by means to be described to thereby reciprocate the jaws and open and close them, and in accordonce with the ,present invention, the front jaw 36 is at all times maintained in proper alignment with the rear jaw 35 and is operated by the latter. 'I'his is accomplished by providing the guidepins 31 which are rigidly secured to the rear jaw 35 and extend frontwardly through guiding holes formed in the front jaw 3G so that this law mediate portion of a rock` arm while the oppov 'tangular trame, and by providinga stop for each providing the stop collars 58 upon the rod 5i'in engagement with the outer faces of the arms 48 and 49; Ythese collars are rigidly secured to the rod 5I by the set screws 54.

Th eccentric 41 is long enough to operateall three of the rock arms and is mounted upon a power shaft 55 which is driven by power means (not shown) at any desired speed. The eccenltric 41, it should be noted, is notpositively secured to the power shaft 55, but is rotatably mounted thereupon and is driven from the power shaft by clutch means to' be described. The construction is such that the operation of the rock arms for any one of the drafting units may be `started and stopped-without the necessity of stopping the rotation of the power shaft 55 which operates the entire series of these units.` The rectangular portions 48', 49 and50' of the rock arms are retained inl slightly spaced relation to each other and are held against lateral movement by the relatively large spacing washers 56 which are mounted upon the operating eccentric 41. One end ofthe eccentric 41 abuts against a stop collar 51 which is rigidly secured to the operating shaft 55 by the set screwv58, and the w opposite en d of this eccentric is engaged by the clutch member 59 which is'keyed to the power shaft 55 for sliding movement lengthwise of this shaft. This clutch member 59 is continuously urged towards the eccentric 41 by the coiled spring conned between this clutch member and a collar 6I secured to the operating shaft, andfthe eccentric and clutch member are provided with the cooperating grooves and drivingv ribs shown. v

It will 'be notedfrom Fig. 4 that the size of the rectangular opening formed in each^of the rock arms to receive the operating eccentric is such that lthe vertical inner walls of this opening snugly receive the eccentric 41 whereas a substantial clearance space is provided'between. the

eccentric and the upper and lower inner wallsot this opening. Asa result 'of this construction each rockarm will be moved frontwardly and rearwardly an amount corresponding to the throw of the eccentric 41, whereas the ,clearance space provided between the eccentric and the lower wall of each rock arm permits an adjustment to be made whereby the vertical movement imparted to each of these rock arms may be Jess than the throw of the eccentric 41. In the construction vshown the eccentric 41 serves to raise each rock arm and move it frontwardly, and the movement downwardly and rearwardly/of each rock arm is secured by the tension of a downwardly inclined spring 62, there being one -of these springs for each o1' the rock -arms and the upper end of each spring is secured to an intersite end of each spring isl secured at 6l to a projection` upon the supporting frame .as will be apparent from Fig. 1.

It was pointed ont above thatay shorter up and downstroke is imparted to the upper jaw 85 than to the lower jaw 38,

and it may be desirable to increase or decrease the length of the vertical stroke of each of these ja'ws to Yaccommodate the particular requirements ofthe ilbers being'draft- -ed. This may be readily secured through the. Vprovision of the clearance space between the e`c-f' centric 41 and the lower wall of the enclosing rec,-

of lthe rock arms .to arrest its downward movement. In the construction shown the rock arm ward movement arrested-by an aiustable stop A64 which is adjustably mounted in a bar 65 extending lengthwiseof the machine. 'I'he downward movement of the comb operating arm 50 is arrested by the adjustable bolt or stop 66 carlr'ied by the longitudinally extending bar 61. The

` 1i while the bar 69 is provided with the adjusting means 12. As a result of these adjusting means any one of these bars maybe raised or lowered to control the stopping position of the selected rockarms for all of the drafting units provided lengthwise of the machine. In addition to the means just described for adjusting the' stroke of each rock arm, provision is made whereby the jaws 35land 38 may be adjusted upon their arms v46 and 49 respectively and the comb may be adjusted upon che arm tu.A This is accompushed by providing the supporting brackets 48x, 49x, and 50x thatare adjustably secured to their respective arms. v

When the eccentric 41 is in its uppermost position of Fig. 4 all three rock arms, 48. 49 and 50 will be in their yuppermostlpositions and will be advanced part way forward. As the eccentric rotates 90 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, eachof Ithese arms will be in its partly lowered position and will be in its maximum forward position As the eccentric rotates` through another 90 to its lowest position, each df these arms will be partly retracted and will be` strand or roving upon being` drafted will be twisted into a yarn Y. 'I'his twisting or spinning of the yarn may be effected lby any suitable means. such, for exl'rnple, as the well-known ring 13 and traveler 14f/which serve'to wind the yarn Y about the usual--pobbin 15 as the ring rail which' supports the ring 18 is traversed up and down. The bobbln 15 is mounted upon the spinning spindie 16 which is rotatably supported in a casing 11. This spindle may be provided with the usual pulley or whirl 18 and is driven-by the belt 19 from a' drum 66 extending lengthwise of the machine. l It' will be understood from the foregoing that the present invention contemplates the use of reciprocating means for feeding the roving R.

for drafting the roving, and that it also contemplates contlnuously rotatinggspinning means forl twisting or spinningthe drafted fibers. As a result of this construction the twisting operation is applied lntermittentlyft'o a portion of the fibers beingdrafted as will vbe apparent from comparing Figs. 4 and 8 f the drawings wherein' it will be see that when'the lower jaws38 and 39 are openas shown in Fig-4 the twist will extend up#v wardly to the closed stop jaws 4| and 42, whereasfl when the lower jaws 38 and 88 are closed as shown .forward stepl by step andreciprocating means by the spinning mechanisms in the present construction vhowever serves not only to twist this coreduring the covering operation -fbut also toA impart a twist to the uncovered portion ofr` the rubber core where it travels upwardly through the opening inthe jaw 42 toward the supply package |00. 'I'he elastic yarn of Fig. 8'may if desired be provided with a second or outer cover spun or wrapped thereupon in the opposite dicover from the rubber core. It is also found that elastic yarn constructed, in accordance with the present invention can be given a highly uniform range of stretch and that such elastic yarn is well adapted for use in the production of knitted and woven fabric and may be used for other purposes.

Having thus Adescribed myinvention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of treating te xtile fibers which comprises feeding a strand of fibers, intermittently drafting said strand, combingthe portion of the strand being drafted, and twisting the fibers as they are drafted. I L 2. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises drafting a strand of bersby intermittently extending and thinning successive smallportions of the strand, the rate of extension for-each portion increasing from a minimum to a maximum speed-and combing the portion of the strand being drafted.

3. 'I'he method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding a strand of fibers, drafting the strand by extending and thinning successive small portions at a rate of extension which increases from a minimumto a maximum, combing the portion of the strand being drafted, and

twisting the drafted strand.

4. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding a strand of fibers, applying successive independent step by step drafting im- A pulses to successive overlapping small portions'of the fed strand, and simultaneously combing the portion of the strand being drafted.-

5. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding a strand of fibers, applying successive' independent step by step drafting impulses to successive overlappingsmall portions of the fed strand, and simultaneously combing the portion of the strand'being drafted with synchronized strokes.

6. -The method of treating textile `fibers which comprises gripping and feeding at intervals suc` cessive small increments of a strand of fibers,

'applying successive independent step by step drafting impulses to successive overlapping small portions of the fed strand, and combing the portion of the strand being drafted with strokes synchronized with the gripping of the strand.

7. 'I'he method of drafting-a strand of loos-elyl aggregatedv fibers comprising gripping the strand at spaced points and while firmly holding the strand at these points increasing the distance between said points to thereby draft the fibers, and combing drafted.

able to comb Athe vportion of the strand beingV 8. The method of drafting a strand of loosely aggregated fibers comprising gripping the strand at spaced points and whilefirmly holding the strand at these points increasing the distance between said points to thereby draft the fibers and simultaneously combing the strand between said points.

--9. The method of treating a strand of loosely aggregated fibers which comprises alternately twisting and gripping the strand between spaced points and while the strand is gripped at said points increasing the distance between said points to draft the fibers, and combing the strand between said points.

10. The method of making elastic yarn comprising gripping a strand 'of loosely aggregated bers at spaced points and while firmly holding the strand at these points increasing the distance between `said points to thereby draft the fibers, delivering an elastic thread to the portion of the strand being drafted, and twisting the thread and drafted fibers to wrap the fibers about the elastic thread as a cover.

11. The method of making elastic yarn comprising gripping a strand of loosely aggregated fibers at spaced points and while firmly holding the strand at these points increasing the distance between said points to thereby draft the fibers, delivering an elastic thread to the portion of the strand being drafted, and twisting the thread andtdrafted fibers to thereby twist the covered and uncovered elastic thread and wrap the fibers aboutthe elastic thread as a cover.

12. The method of making elastic yarn. comprising advancing a strand of loosely aggregated fibers, alternately twisting and gripping the f lstrand between spaced points and while the strand is gripped at said points increasing the distance between said points to draft the fibers. delivering an elastic thread to the strand between said p'oints, and imparting a twist to the thread as well as the strand to Wrap the fibers Labout the elastic thread as a cover.`

' 13. 'I'he method of making elastic yarn which 'il comprises feeding a roving, intermittently drafting the fibers of said rovingby step by step drafting impulses each of which increases in speed in the drafting direction, delivering an elastic thread to the portion of the roving being drafted, and twisting the thread and drafted fibers to wrap the fibers about the elastic thread as a cover.

14. The method of making elastic yarn comprising advancing a* strand of loosely aggregated fibers, gripping at intervals successive small increments of vsaid strand, applying successive independent step by step drafting impulses to suc` mechanism for bodily moving said gripping means so that one moves with a greater amplitude than the other to draft the strand, and a comb positioned between said gripping means and opel'-I the portion of the strand being drafted. f

16. A textile fiber treating mechanism vcomprising spaced pairs lof means for gripping a strand of loosely aggregated fibers, means lfor forcing both pairs of said gripping 'means so that one pair moves a greater distance than the other' to draft the strand,'and a comb located between said pairs of gripping means and operable to comb the portion of the strand being drafted.

1'7. A textile fiber treating mechanism "`com-' prising a rst and second pair of means for gripping a strand of fibers at spaced points, a comb positioned between said pairs ofmeans, and mechanism for reciprocating said comb and said ilrst and second pair of gripping means but with different amplitude to thereby comb and draft said strand.

18. A textile :liber treating mechanism comprising a pair of jaws ,for gripping a strand of loosely aggregated fibers, a second pair of jaws for gripping said strand at a distance from the first jaws, a comb operable in the space between said pairs of jaws, means for operating the first pair of jaws to feed the strand and the second pair of jaws to draft the strand, and'means for operating the comb to comb the strand while it; is held by both pairs of jaws.

19. A textile fiber treating mechanism comprising a pair of jaws for gripping a strand of loosely aggregated fibers, a second pairA of jaws for gripping said strand at a distance from the first jaws, a comb operable in the space between said pairs of jaws, and means for reciprocating the comb and pairs of jaws to comband draft the strand.

20. A textile fiber treating mechanism comprising a pair of jaws for gripping a strand of loosely aggregated fibers, a second pair of jaws for gripping said strand at a distance from the first jaws, means for reciprocating one jaw of each of said pairv of jaws ,and for imparting a greater movement to one than the other to thereby draft the strand, and means for con- -tinuously connecting the two jaws forming a pair ,to hold them in alignment and operate one from the other.

2i. A textile ber treating mechanism comprising a pair of jaws for gripping a strandof loosely aggregated fibers, a second pair lof jaws for gripping said strand at a distance from the first jaws, means for continuously connecting the two jaws forming a pair to hold them in alignment and operate one from the other, and means for reciprocating at least `one pair of said jaws to draft said strand.

22. A textile fiber treating mechanismcomprising' a pair of jaws for gripping and feeding a'strand of fibers, a second pair of jaws for gripping and drafting the strand while it is heldy by the first pair of jaws, means associated with each pair of jaws for continuously connecting the two jaws forming a pair to hold them in alignment and-operate one from the other, and

means for synchronously and intermittently moving said feeding jaws and drafting jaws includlng means for imparting a movement of 'greater amplitude to the drafting jaws.

drafted, rock arms for actuatingthe comb and said first and second means respectively, and an eccentric for actuating said rock arms tothereby feed, comb and draft said strand.

24. A textile ber treating mechanism comprising strand gripping and vfeeding means,

strand gripping and drafting means adapted to draft the strand while held by said first means, a'comb operable to comb the strand being drafted, rock larms for actuating the comb and said first and second means respectively, an eccentric for actuating said rock arms to raise them and move them forward, and spring means for pulling said arms down and rearward. y 25. A textile fiber treating mechanism cornprising strand gripping and feeding means, strand gripping and drafting means adapted to draft the strand while held by said first means, a comb operable to comb-the strand being drafted, rock arms for actuating the comb and said first and second means respectively, an eccentricrl for actuating said rock arms to raise them and move them forward, spring means for pulling said arms down and rearward; and adjustable stops for limitingA the downward movement of said arms.

26, A textile fiber treating machine including a series of units each comprising feeding means having intermittent strand engaging and feeding movements and drafting means having intermittent strand engaging'and draftingmovements, means for operating all of said. unitssimultaneously to operate their feeding and drafting means and imparting a movement of greater amplitude to the drafting means, and manualy controlled means for starting and stopping the operation of any unit independently of the other units.

27. A textile fiber treating machine including a series of units each comprising feeding means having intermittent strand engaging and feeding movements and "drafting means having intermittent strand engaging and drafting movements,

spinning means vassociated with each unit for twisting the draftedstrand, and manually controlled means for starting and stopping the drafting and-spinning mechanism of any unit independently of the other units.

28. A textile ber treating machine including av series of unitsVeach unit comprising feeding means having intermittent' strand engaging and feeding movements and drafting means having intermittent strand engaging and drafting movements and also having combing means, each unit having rock arms for actuating said comb and said feeding and drafting means respectively, an eccentric for actuating all three arms of a unit, driving means for said eccentric, and a manually operated clutch for controlling said eccentric.

29. A machine for making elastic yarn comprising a pair of jaws for grippingand feeding a roving, a second pair of jaws for gripping and drafting the roving, means for actuating vsaid jaws and for moving one pair relative to the other to draft the roving, means for deliveringy an elastic thread` to the roving at a point between the pairs of jaws, and means for twisting the thread and drafted fibers to wrap the fibers about the thread as a cover.

30. A machine for making elastic yarn comprising a p air`of roving feeding jaws, a pair of roving ldrafting jaws, means for opening and closing said jaws and for moving the second pair of jaws a greater distance than the iirst pair to draft the roving. a third pair of jaws located bee` tween the first and second pair and adapted to grip the roving whenl itis released by the first and second pair of jaws, means for delivering an elastic thread to the roving at, said third pair of jaws, and means for i twisting the thread and drafted` iibers to wrap the fibers about the thread as a cover.

BOUTWELL I-I. FOSTER. 

